First and last Playboy automobiles to attend Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance

1947 Playboy convertible prototype. All images courtesy of David Kaplan.

It’s an oft-recounted tale: Demand for new cars in postwar America was at an all-time high. Returning GIs, the baby-boom that followed and Detroit’s reconversion from war effort to automobile production meant that many were buying hurriedly-built warmed-over 1942 models during the spring of ’46. Freshly restyled models from most automakers would not be available for another three years, which meant the timing was right for several start-up companies to carve their niche into America’s automotive lore with unique designs of their own. Among them was the Playboy Motor Corporation, based in Buffalo, New York.

The Playboy was the brainchild of former Packard dealer Louis Horwitz. Conceived as an “assembled” compact car – meaning it was made from components produced and obtained from a number of outside suppliers – it was to feature a convertible top while maintaining a price tag below $990. In theory, it was the perfect vehicle for those families looking for a stylish-yet-affordable second car.

Factory promotional photo of the 1947 Playboy prototype with company president and founder Louis Horwitz.

The initial prototype, unveiled in 1947, went a step beyond the compact 90-inch wheelbase chassis. It featured a manual softtop that covered three passengers while being powered by a Continental four-cylinder engine backed by a vacuum-controlled planetary transmission. What made it more unusual was the fact that the engine was rear-mounted a la Corvair (which wouldn’t be introduced for a little over a decade).

Immediately after the prototype was assembled, however, the Continental engine was relocated to the industry-standard location in front of the driver. At the same time, the softtop was replaced by a two-piece, manually operated, counter-balanced folding hardtop.

Pre-production versions were hand-built through 1949 with a variety of subtle changes, including choice of engine supplier, until a lack of funds prevented the Playboy from entering full production and forced its closure. In all, 97 were made, plus one station wagon prototype.

Factory photo of a 1949 Playboy. Note the subtle running styling changes made to the body and trim.

The last Playboy, number 97, before its restoration was commissioned.

1949 Playboy number 97 ready for paint earlier this summer.

We are excited to announce that attendees of the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance will be able to view the 1947 Playboy prototype, which is owned by Louis Horwitz’s grandson, David Kaplan. David will also be displaying Playboy #97, which was the last pre-production example originally intended to be built had work stoppage not prevented its completion. David has since commissioned it to pbe finished and restored, and it will be unveiled at our event.

Two other Playboys are also scheduled to be on display at the Hemmings Concours: car #94 owned by David’s cousin, Lee Singer, and car #75 owned by Michael Cohen. Michael’s Playboy, it should be noted, is an original, unrestored example.

Joining the Playboy automobiles on the picturesque grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park, adjacent to the Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, New York, will be 1964-1974 Pontiac GTOs; pre-1975 Dodges in celebration of the automaker’s centennial; air-cooled Volkswagens; Alfa Romeos; pre-1973 Lincoln Continentals; Fire Trucks; Full Classics, and our other standard classes (American non-performance, American Muscle Cars, European, Trucks, and Preservation).

The Concours will take place on Sunday, September 28, and will be preceded by our Cruise-In Spectacular (open to all makes) on Saturday, September 27, and the Hemmings Rally on Friday the 26th.

September 23, 2014 9:21 am

Robert D. Cunninghamsays:

September 24, 2014 12:06 pm

Ten Playboy cars were owned for many years by Donald Moore, of Bellingham, MA. That’s about a dozen miles from North Attleboro. You may have seen one of his cars, since he had them stored in various locations.

Glenn Krasnersays:

September 23, 2014 9:36 am

Ed Howardsays:

September 23, 2014 10:43 am

I am the Webmaster of the Playboy cars website (www.playboymotorcars.com) and have been a huge fan of Abbott and Costello for over 40 years. I recently viewed my film copy of “Buck Privates Come Home” and the car that becomes airborne at the end of the movie with Lou driving does not appear to be a Playboy car. Please let me know what led you to believe this. Thanks.

September 23, 2014 10:36 am

Howiesays:

September 23, 2014 11:34 am

Ed Howardsays:

September 23, 2014 11:59 am

Yes, you are correct. Hugh Hefner has confirmed that his friend’s mother had worked for the Playboy Car Company and Hef’s friend suggested he use the Playboy name for his magazine, which debuted in December, 1953.

Scotty Gsays:

September 23, 2014 11:59 am

Jack Muellersays:

September 23, 2014 12:17 pm

Sidebar to Louis Horowitz. After the company folded, he continued in the automobile business. Ironically, he ended up with the Kaiser-Frazer franchise for Tonawanda NY. If you check the Buffalo newspaper’s September 28th (or thereabouts) issue, you will find Louis Horowitz K-F Motors listed as one of the dealers in the Buffalo NY distributor sales territory.

fredsays:

September 23, 2014 11:43 pm

I earned a buck or two back in my teens (early 50’s) washing parts and sweeping up in Baldridge’s Garage in southern Illinois (Centralia). The owners adult son had a Model T and what I swear was a new/unused Playboy tucked away in a corner – I swept around them a thousand times, being told the T was his Hi-School car BUT never got an explanation for the Playboy.(pink?) That was 60 years ago so everyone and everything is long gone now

Rich Warnersays:

September 24, 2014 12:03 am

While in FL this past Winter, I saw the #57 Playboy owned by Michael Cohen. It was shown at the AACA Winter meet in Port St. Lucie,
and I saw it again at the Elliott Museum show.
It was a treat to see one of these unique cars,
and especially this original, unrestored example.

Rich Warnersays:

September 24, 2014 12:06 am

mikesays:

September 24, 2014 12:20 pm

I am from Buffalo ny and I’m pretty sure these cars were manufactured here. It’s funny that these cars were lost to history for so long but have now been enjoying a resurgence. It has a retractable top that worked like a cantilever clam shell hardtop.
I saw these two cars in Buffalo at the Historical Society Car show this past summer. They are very small simple cars and are not particularly attractive to view in person. I guess they are historically significant however. Only 50 were produced.

Ed Howardsays:

September 24, 2014 1:56 pm

As Webmaster of the Playboy cars website (http://www.playboymotorcars.com), I must correct you. There were a reported 97 cars built, not 50. Thanks. You might be thinking of the production run of the Tucker. There were 51 Tuckers built.

Susnsays:

September 24, 2014 3:07 pm

I came home from the hospital when I was born in a playboy car in 1949. My father was a mechanic who helped build the playboy automobiles in Buffalo. And I grew up listening to my father talk about his adventures with Lou Horwitz and there was another gentleman, I forgot his name..